Funky Jah Punkys

Rebels with ambition. After meeting at a seafood restaurant in Tacoma, Washington—Gulley owned the joint; guitarist Scott Vaughn was its head chef—the Punkys made their way to Canyon Lake, California, and eventually to Las Vegas. Initially a punk-rock outfit, the group quickly diversified its sound to include ska, reggae and funk, not unlike a young Red Hot Chili Peppers. “Diversity is our key,” says Vaughn, who goes by the stage name “Mr. Black.”

Though the Punkys share in the subversive politics of SoCal punk forefathers like Black Flag, X and Social Distortion, they’ve managed to retain a sense of fun.

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